Incubator



June 23, 1925. 1,543,130

5. B. SMITH INCUBATOR Filed Oct. 25. 1922 If I I. g/ 111 I 1 M )1 Patented June 23, 1925.

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SAEUEL B. SMITH, OE CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE'BUCKEYE INCUBATOR COHZANY, 0F SPBENGFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

INCUBATOR.

Application filed October 23, 1922. Serial No. 596,253.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of ()hio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incubators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in incubators and it relates more particularly to incubators of large size in which the trays for the eggs are arranged in series one over the other and mounted for simultaneous tilt- .ing.

In this type of incubator the location of the trays in the row are changed at intervals so as to gradually bring the eggs in the highest state of incubation to positions at the lowermost end of the row. This is accomplished by removing those trays near the bottom in which the eggs are about to be hatched, lowering the entire series of trays and adding at the top of the row other trays of eggs.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for the trays, such that the trays may be quickly and readily removed from one location in the row and installed in another position, or returned to the same position. 1

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of several trays of a series and their mounting and connecting devices.

Fig. 2 is an end view of a pair of trays showing the hangers and connecting devices.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 3. l

Fig. 4 is a view'ot the opposite endof one of the trays "from that shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 represent the upper portions of two endless chains, which pass about sprocket wheels 3 at the ends of a transverse shaft i. These chains support the egg trays 5, which are of the usual construction, and provision is made for revolving the sprocket wheels 3 "to lower the traysthrough a worm gear 7, connected to the shaft 4, worm 8, mounted in a suitably supported bracket 9 and crank shaft 10, connected to the shaft 11 of the worm by joint 12.

The manner of hanging the trays on the.

chains is as follows: Secured to one end of each of the trays is a hanger consisting of a flat metallic plate 13, secured to the tray by bolts 14, and provided with an offset in her end 15, having a slot 16 which enters from the lower ed e thereof, the slot being provided with a daring mouth as shown. The opposite end of each tray has a similarly formed hanger, with the exception that the hanger 17 is shorter, but having the same oilset portion 18 and slot 19. The

'slots 16 and 19 are located centrally with res ect'to the width of the tray and receive links of the chains 1 and 2, whereby each tray is pivotally supported by central pivots to prevent tilting.

In order that the trays may be simultaneously tilted, I provide for connecting them together, and also permit trays being removed from or added to the series of trays at any time desired. Pivot'ed at one end of each tray, preferably by the outermost bolt 14, is a link or connector 20 preferably of flat sheet metal, the pivotal point being at the lower end of the link and such that the link is capable of swinging laterally. The inside edge of the link has a notch 21 to receive the bolt 14 of the next succeeding higher tray so that the link or connector may be clamped between the hanger strip 13 and the lower end of the link 20 of the higher tray. A keeper 22 on each link is slipped over the overlapping portion of the companion link to prevent sidewise displace ment'of the links.

The operation of the device is as follows: "With the trays all connected by the links 20 as described, the entire series of trays may be simultaneously tilted by grasping one of the trays and applying suilicient pressure to swing the entire series of trays about their pivotal points on the chains. Any suitable means (not shown) may be used for holding the trays in tilted position. When it is desired to remove the lower trays, the same may be readily accomplished by slipping the keep ers'from the overlapping portions of the links, swinging the links to the dotted line position of Fig. 2, and lifting the trays from the chains. The balance of the trays will then be lowered in the manner described to the extent of the trays removed, and new trays replaced at the top of the row.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

.1. In a devic of the character described,

a series of trays arranged in a vertical row,

a pair of endless chains arranged respectively at the ends of said trays, a hanger on the end of each tray, each hanger being spaced from the tray sufiiciently to permit the chain to straddle thehanger and having a notch arranged midway the width of the trays, said notches being adapted to engag the links of the chains to pivotally suspend the said trays, and means to move the chains to lower the trays.

2. In a device of the character described, a series of trays arranged in a vertical row, a pair of endless chains arranged, respectively, at the ends of said trays, a hanger having'an offset notched portion arranged midway the width of the tray at each end of said tray, said notched portions being arranged to engage links of the chains to pivotally suspend the trays, a link pivoted to each tray, each arranged to overlap the link of an adjacent tray, and means for detachably connecting each link to an adja cent tray and to the link of each adjacent tra 3? The combination of a plurality of trays, a flexible supporting member adjacent the ends of the trays, means for pivotally mounting each tray upon said supporting member, each tray being independently mounted upon the supporting member and independently. removable therefrom, connectors for the trays, detachable means for securing connectors together whereby the trays are capable of being swung upon their pivots in unison as long as the connectors are secured: together by the detachable means, and when said means are detached a tray can be removed without disturbing the other trays.

4. The combination of a plurality of trays, a plurality of flexible supporting members, one member being adjacent each end of the trays, means for operating said' flexible supporting members in unison whereby the trays will be elevated and lowered simultaneously, means for pivotally mounting each tray upon said supporting SAMUEL B. SMITH. 

